(Crain's) -- Labor unions reached an agreement with one group of construction companies, but major projects such as the Eisenhower Expressway repaving remain stalled while workers maintain their strike against other firms in a standoff over how to pay for rising health care costs.

Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers said a tentative three-year agreement was reached with heavy equipment operators and laborers that would boost wages and benefits by 3.25% annually. The agreement was reached Wednesday morning with the Chicago Area Independent Contractors Assn., which represents about 450 companies, mostly smaller employers.

However, laborers and heavy equipment operators remain on strike against the Mid-America Regional Bargaining Assn., which represents about 300 large and mid-sized construction companies, including those handling major projects such the I-290 repaving and construction of a new downtown high-rise for Roosevelt University.